How can we apply "remove from your midst" in our church community?

The Text at the Center

“...Shouldn’t you rather have mourned so that he who did this deed might be removed from among you?” (1 Corinthians 5:2)

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Why the Command Exists

- Protects the purity of Christ’s body (1 Corinthians 5:6–7; Ephesians 5:27)

- Confronts unrepentant sin for the sinner’s own good (1 Corinthians 5:5)

- Sends a clear witness to the watching world (1 Peter 2:12)

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Foundational Attitudes

- Grief, not gloating: “mourned” (v. 2)

- Humility: “take heed lest you fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12)

- Love that refuses to enable (Proverbs 27:5–6)

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Biblical Process in Brief

1. Private confrontation (Matthew 18:15)

2. Small-group confirmation (Matthew 18:16)

3. Congregational appeal (Matthew 18:17a)

4. Removal from fellowship—“treat him as you would a pagan” (Matthew 18:17b; 1 Corinthians 5:13)

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Practical Steps for Today

- Teach church membership expectations clearly and upfront.

- Establish a written discipline policy anchored in these passages.

- Form a shepherding team (elders/deacons) to oversee cases.

- Record facts carefully; avoid gossip and speculation.

- After removal, limit relational engagement to calls for repentance (2 Thessalonians 3:14–15).

- When repentance is evident, restore fully and publicly (2 Corinthians 2:6–8).

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Balancing Truth and Grace

- Truth: “Expel the wicked man from among you.” (1 Corinthians 5:13)

- Grace: “Restore him gently… watch yourselves.” (Galatians 6:1)

Both are obeyed when the church removes yet keeps the door wide open for genuine repentance.

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Safeguards for the Congregation

- Regular preaching on holiness (1 Peter 1:15–16).

- Communion fencing: ask members to examine themselves (1 Corinthians 11:27–29).

- Mutual accountability through small groups and elder oversight.

- Swift, discreet action when serious sin surfaces; delay breeds leaven.

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Fruit to Expect

- A clearer testimony of God’s character (Titus 2:14).

- Growth in reverent fear of the Lord (Acts 5:11).

- Healthier, deeper fellowship marked by honest confession (James 5:16).